Dental Assistant

This position is for Indian Health Service at Zia Health Clinic in Zia Pueblo, NM

Dental Assistants have many tasks, such as assisting in the care of patient’s teeth, recordkeeping, appointment scheduling, taking x-rays, etc. In the capacity of an expanded-function Dental Assistant, they may be required to perform other activities as delegated by a Dentist to an unlicensed person, such as intra-oral procedures.

Tasks

Dental Assistants at this level serve as Dental Assistants at the full performance level for routine patient care and perform more complex patient procedures under the general supervision of more experienced Dental Assistants, or the Dental Supervisor.

• Compliant in customer service. Shows courtesy, respect, and positive attitude for patients, co-workers, and the public. Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns and provides service recovery.
• All Contractors shall abide by IHS Policy and ProceduresCompliant in Chair-side Dental Assisting. Sets up operatory for planned Dental procedure and cleans
• Dental Unit for timely turnover. Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently. Keeps operative field clear of debris and retracts oral tissues effectively and comfortably. Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer’s instructions. Accomplishes all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols. Assists in routine general dental procedures. Assists in specialized dental procedures, such as oral surgery, endodontics, and prosthodontics.
• Participates in staff meeting, in-service education programs, and quality improvement studies/activities to enhance the overall delivery of patient care.
• Compliant in Dental Imaging. Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately-oriented and exposed. Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized. Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired timeframe.
• Compliant in Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatories. Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards. Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care. Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images.
• Compliant in Clerical Functions. Assists patients in scheduling appointments. Assists in filling gaps in the dentist’s schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments. Assists Dentist in charting findings, treatment plans, and treatment in patient records (including the use of Millennium, Dental Record Manager, and VISTA). Performs other clerical duties as assigned.
• Compliant in Information Management. Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information. Follows computer safety regulations.
• Compliant in Patient Safety. Modifies care as necessitated by patient’s age and abilities (patient transfer and position). Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients. Participates in patient identification and timeout per Joint Commission (JC) requirements. Monitors patient conditions during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.
• Compliant in Employee Education. Complies with Employee Education requirements. Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions. Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) qualifications.
• Compliant in Dental Laboratory Functions. Pour impression and prepares study models. Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims. Prepares cases for the Dental Laboratory and ensures timely retrieval of completed cases from the laboratory. Performs other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow.
• Compliant in Direct Patient Care. Remove sutures. Impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication. Remove temporary crown/bridge and clean tooth preparation of debris. Re-cement and fabricate temporary crowns. Vital signs monitoring. Administers oxygen (in emergencies and routinely via transfer from patient’s oxygen tank to the same liter flow on operatory oxygen and returns to patient’s oxygen after treatment). Applies fluoride products, as ordered by Dentist. Applies topical anesthetics, as ordered by Dentist. Applies other topical medications and medicaments, as ordered by Dentist. Administers pre-procedural mouth rinses, as ordered by the Dentist. Coronal polishing of teeth. Place rubber dams and matrix band. Provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education. Telephonically addresses patient care issues and documents for review by the Dentist. Performs other permissible direct patient care issues as time and skill levels allow within the contractors’ scope of practice.

Work Hours

General work days and hours at Zia Health Clinic are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

a. Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.

b. Experience or Education (one is required):

(1) Experience. Six months’ experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. This experience must be documented and submitted with proposal.

OR

(2) Education. Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). A certificate of completion or other evidence of completion must be submitted with proposal.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $60,000.00 - $63,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Afternoon shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Morning shift
• No nights
• No weekends

Work Location: In person

Salary : $60,000 - $63,000